I married into Margaret Mitchell’s family. I assure you, she did indeed base her characters on her family members. To this day, those personality traits from Gone With the Wind can be found in the family. We had cousin Meredith as Scarlet. My father-in-Law was Ashley Welks. Another cousin was like Melonie. As for me, I married Rhett Butler 😉😎
@@RagtopHistorian I was born and raised in Indiana. I saw Gone With the Wind when I was 12 or so. After it was over, I remember thinking where in the world did they get these people?? No one around me acts like that. After I married Dan, I found out 😳 I read that Margaret Mitchell went to visit her grandparents parents. Old Civil War Veterans would come to visit. Margaret would sit on the porch and listen to the Vets tell tales of the Civil War. Apparently, she was 10 before she realized that War was over.
@@evaschonfeld5752 Believe it or not the family was STILL arguing about that war when I married into it 30 years ago! Being a Yankee (my Great Great Grandfather was in the Indiana 42nd), I reminded them that no matter what they said the North won the war! That shut them up!
@@deborahchapman222 You're lucky. My mom is from Michigan and my dad is from Alabama. His family did not welcome my mom 42 years ago and still aren't very warm to her.
This story made me cry, hearing about the generosity of Mr Fitzgerald, at Grace's persistence and strength of character, and at the cooperation behind the scenes that sometimes occurred between members of the two races. There were so many ways that good people quietly used to defeat the chattel slavery system in the Southern US states and border states. Stories that today's angry radicals will never acknowledge, but are undeniable and true, all the same.
Outstanding connection Margaret Mitchell and Doc Holliday....Our wonderfully small world is full of amazing connections. Thank you for bringing this and the other facts to us.
That's a beautiful story and I thank you so very much for sharing it. I love the movie Gone With the Wind it's nice to know some family history about Margaret Mitchell
GWTW is one of my favorite novels and movies. I was fortunate enough to see it on the big screen in Atlanta in January 2020 (and took my son and his 7-year-old daughter, who both loved it). This happened right before the world went completely mad and tried to erase Mitchell's masterpiece to spare the feelings of a few foolish offended people. One of the best things I like about the video above is that the historian does not apologize for historical facts.
My mom saw it 7 times, when it came out... For her 80th birthday, we did a roaring twenties party, and we had Gone with the Wind posters on the walls.. I still have one on her bedroom door in my house.. She passed away in 2006...
This was absolutely wonderful. I am always intrigued with the stories behind the names and this was very good. How incredibly touching about Grace. Thank you for this opportunity to step into Margaret Mitchell's past. It's like the story of Mary Poppins' author. Once your know her family background, the entire story/movie takes on a completely different meaning.
Just found this. So Dilcey, the Fontaines, Mayebelle Merriwether and so many other from that book are all right there or very close. Love it! Would love to learn more.
After sleeping on it l remembered being in a play in 1970 called"Spoon River Anthology" it was set in a cemetery with each person telling their story from the grave. Then there was "Our Town" both hits in their day. Then there is the channel "Hollywood Graveyards" also on TH-cam
Very interesting story. Grace sounds like a most remarkable lady. And of course the man who purchased her. Even though he didn't own slaves. And, the family allowing her to buried at the feet of her master.....how extraordinary is that?
And Mr. Fitzgerald wasn’t a slave owner, against slavery, and he freed her as soon as he “purchased” her. He was an amazing man. and she must have been an amazing woman! Thanks for watching!
It just dawned on me why Scarlett was so hard headed - she was Irish! Haha from a fellow Irishman. Thank you Deb for this interesting video. Great info & photography. Was wondering where the road would take us at the end....God Bless!!
@@steveadams7940 Not what OP is saying... she means, DETERMINATION AND STRENGTH OF CHARACTER that Irish people are known for, by which they lifted themselves up from indentured servitude, from being starving, penniless refugees to the great contributors to America they have always been and still are today.
There’s many of these good stories. My family is from Virginia and there’s many, many families that carry my family last name. Yes it’s in the history books as to how it became. Long before the civil war and after. The families was treated so well they did not want to leave. And to this day, they are still there in Essex county VA with the last name of Samuel, Butler, Bryant all connected in marriage dating back to 1750.
Such a beautiful story Mary! So good to learn and add to history. Grace will never be forgotten in my church black history from now on. She was courageous in thinking of her future and so used all she knew in being brought as a slave. Slave owners depending on where one lived where different in ways they treated their slaves. Its so good that Grace's wish was honored. Grace rest in peace.
Cam Bennett is my 3x great grandfather. My grandparents, Glenn and Jeanne Brewer, lived in his house until they passed away recently. Lots of good memories in that town! The house is now the Southern Conservation Trust. Most of my family is buried in that cemetery.
Thank you, Richard. It is an amazing true story of love and kindness. We could all learn something from it. Thanks so much for watching and your comment!
I’ve read gwtw so many times, including right now, and I am so grateful for the video. I would love to meet ms. Riddle the docent and pick her brain❣️ thank you for this video 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you! Deborah Riddle is doing a cemetery walk at the cemetery in the video, The Fayetteville City Cemetery on Friday, October 15th if you are interested! She has lots of stories!
Sounds a lovely family, for helping grace, the family must of meant a lot to her, especially requesting to be burried with them, and again for that to be granted.
@@RagtopHistorian aw thanks for letting me know. The gravestones look so beautiful now. It's sad when they're just left. Maybe no family now to care for them. Great job ❤️.
This is great I love our history and even though black folks were not treated kindly at all this is a sweet kind loving tribute that people back then did do the right thing god bless their souls
Thanks for subscribing! Concerning Grace’s headstone, we would have to ask Mr. Fitzgerald about that. It was the 1850’s, for one thing. He was already breaking the rules of the cemetery by burying her with the family. It was a very kind and courageous thing to do back then. He didn’t own slaves and this was a big statement to the community. She WAS the family’s servant, however, and not family. It was a different era. Thanks again for the comment! I hope you enjoy the channel!
What’s important to remember here is that she was buried next to Mr. Fitzgerald in a “white only” section of the cemetery. It was a way to show others that the family loved her enough to have her buried with them. It was an honor to Grace.
And it still plays the same unfortunate part Today only its position has changed every one sets to much on it black white Asian greek Italian its still 1 race the human race 🏁 😑
As a history geek myself, I found this story to be very heartwarming. I guess 56 others are too politically correct to want to understand this story in the context of the time in which it happened.
@@RagtopHistorian vicious period of American history, but GWTW is a fascinating movie that I loved as a kid, poor Vivien Leigh died a tragic, broken character in real life.
my late uncle loyd faught in world 1 ant 2 he was from the old carolinas told me a lot about the old south witch i have always had lot of respect for god bless.
The Grace story reminds me a little of biblical Ruth. Minus the kinsman-marriage-thing. Requesting to lay at his feet makes me wonder if she took it from the Bible, as he did set her free.
I just stumbled upon this story. It is wonderful. I am one of those history detail lovers you talked about. When you were going through the background of the Fitzgerald family did you ever find any pieces that they were associated with JFK? Thank you
@@RagtopHistorian Thank you. There were so many common names & being Irish it just makes sense. I subscribed to your channel. I will keep watching. If your stories were as good as this one I will keep watching. Thank you for your hard work.
Actress Susan Hayward auditioned for the part of Scarlett in the film but did not get the role. She is buried in Carrollton Georgia. There is a memorial at the performing arts center here in Carrollton as well.
I married into Margaret Mitchell’s family. I assure you, she did indeed base her characters on her family members. To this day, those personality traits from Gone With the Wind can be found in the family. We had cousin Meredith as Scarlet. My father-in-Law was Ashley Welks. Another cousin was like Melonie.
As for me, I married Rhett Butler 😉😎
What an amazing legacy! Thanks for sharing it! Thanks for watching too!
@@RagtopHistorian I was born and raised in Indiana. I saw Gone With the Wind when I was 12 or so. After it was over, I remember thinking where in the world did they get these people?? No one around me acts like that. After I married Dan, I found out 😳
I read that Margaret Mitchell went to visit her grandparents parents. Old Civil War Veterans would come to visit.
Margaret would sit on the porch and listen to the Vets tell tales of the Civil War. Apparently, she was 10 before she realized that War was over.
@@deborahchapman222 I once read she was 12 before she knew the South had lost!
@@evaschonfeld5752 Believe it or not the family was STILL arguing about that war when I married into it 30 years ago! Being a Yankee (my Great Great Grandfather was in the Indiana 42nd), I reminded them that no matter what they said the North won the war! That shut them up!
@@deborahchapman222 You're lucky. My mom is from Michigan and my dad is from Alabama. His family did not welcome my mom 42 years ago and still aren't very warm to her.
The one thing you can not erase is history. It will always be with us 🇺🇸
I agree! History is important to study because it's a part of us. We learn from it, and grow from it! Thanks for watching!!!
Glad Mr. Fitzgerald granted Grace's wishes and then set her free.
Thank you for the history behind the headstones.
Thanks for watching!
This story made me cry, hearing about the generosity of Mr Fitzgerald, at Grace's persistence and strength of character, and at the cooperation behind the scenes that sometimes occurred between members of the two races. There were so many ways that good people quietly used to defeat the chattel slavery system in the Southern US states and border states. Stories that today's angry radicals will never acknowledge, but are undeniable and true, all the same.
Outstanding connection Margaret Mitchell and Doc Holliday....Our wonderfully small world is full of amazing connections. Thank you for bringing this and the other facts to us.
Thank you very much! I love history and when travel resumes I will try to find more great history to share! Thanks again for watching!!
You are absolutely correct. History MUST be saved & passed on! Thank you 😊 Enjoyed it
It was a small world then and continues into our present time.
That's a beautiful story and I thank you so very much for sharing it. I love the movie Gone With the Wind it's nice to know some family history about Margaret Mitchell
Thanks so much, Mary!
Excellent job! I have my BA in History from West Georgia College and I love this presentation. I am a fellow history geek! Thank You!
Thank you so much!
GWTW is one of my favorite novels and movies. I was fortunate enough to see it on the big screen in Atlanta in January 2020 (and took my son and his 7-year-old daughter, who both loved it). This happened right before the world went completely mad and tried to erase Mitchell's masterpiece to spare the feelings of a few foolish offended people. One of the best things I like about the video above is that the historian does not apologize for historical facts.
Thanks for watching! History is history and should never be erased.
@@RagtopHistorian, I completely agree!
My mom saw it 7 times, when it came out... For her 80th birthday, we did a roaring twenties party, and we had Gone with the
Wind posters on the walls.. I still have one on her bedroom door in my house.. She passed away in 2006...
@@debbiegoolsbyjackson95, sounds like your mother had great taste. My sympathy for your loss of her.
ThNk you for sharing! Loved the book so much history! I hope a lot of people see this. History with truth not lies or spin just pure history.
Thanks so much and thanks for watching!
This was absolutely wonderful. I am always intrigued with the stories behind the names and this was very good. How incredibly touching about Grace. Thank you for this opportunity to step into Margaret Mitchell's past.
It's like the story of Mary Poppins' author. Once your know her family background, the entire story/movie takes on a completely different meaning.
Thanks for watching!
This IS a Beautiful Presentation!!!
BRAVO!!!!!!!
Wow, what a wonderful, beautiful, story. Loved it!
Thank you so much! Thanks for watching!
Just found this.
So Dilcey, the Fontaines, Mayebelle Merriwether and so many other from that book are all right there or very close.
Love it!
Would love to learn more.
So many stories that we have not heard, thanks for sharing.
would enjoy more stories from the cemetery
That sounds like a good idea! Thanks for watching!
After sleeping on it l remembered being in a play in 1970 called"Spoon River Anthology" it was set in a cemetery with each person telling their story from the grave. Then there was "Our Town" both hits in their day. Then there is the channel "Hollywood Graveyards" also on TH-cam
Such a lovely story of decency during an indecent time. Thank you for sharing.
It's nice to know of a Southern man who DIDN'T want to own anyone! I'm happy Grace's last request was honored.
Yes, can you imagine? He had amazing courage for his time. God bless his memory! Thanks for watching and commenting!
The kindness shown by the Fitzgeralds happened far to infrequently, but it is nice to know that it did happen.
Thanks so much for watching! When I heard the story I just had to do a video on it. Grace must have been a pretty special lady too!
That was truly a wonderful story. RIP Grace with ALL your grace.
Thank you for sharing a beautiful story.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing this video with me and many others.
Thanks so much for watching!
Interesting story.... my dad's cousin was Susan Myrick who was technical advisor for the movie.
Interesting...it's weird that she didn't mention you.
A small country...Ireland....with a giant footstep.
Yes, it was. Thanks so much for watching!
A beautiful story.
Thanks so much! Thanks also for watching!!!
Very interesting story. Grace sounds like a most remarkable lady. And of course the man who purchased her. Even though he didn't own slaves. And, the family allowing her to buried at the feet of her master.....how extraordinary is that?
This story has made my heart smile, thank you 💕
Thanks for watching!
Wanting to be bought so she couldn't be separated from her family. 💞 This needs to be told to those who are and aren't history ppl. 🤗💁🏽♀️
And Mr. Fitzgerald wasn’t a slave owner, against slavery, and he freed her as soon as he “purchased” her. He was an amazing man. and she must have been an amazing woman! Thanks for watching!
It just dawned on me why Scarlett was so hard headed - she was Irish! Haha from a fellow Irishman. Thank you Deb for this interesting video. Great info & photography. Was wondering where the road would take us at the end....God Bless!!
Thanks for watching! Deb is a wonderful historian and story teller. I was very lucky to get her on video! God bless you as well!
I would have imagined you knew from the jump with her name being O hara that's 100% an Irish name
@@steveadams7940 Not what OP is saying... she means, DETERMINATION AND STRENGTH OF CHARACTER that Irish people are known for, by which they lifted themselves up from indentured servitude, from being starving, penniless refugees to the great contributors to America they have always been and still are today.
Scots Irish heritage are double hard headed. How do I know this? ..... That's me !
Me too!
Very good...precious Grace...
Thanks so much for watching!
What a wonderful stories here and so well presented. Too the piano music accompanying the video is so beautiful and so fitting.
Thank you so very much!
Thank you for this wonderful history story. Loved it!
Thanks for watching!
A wonderful, heartwarming story. Made my day
Thanks for watching!
There’s many of these good stories. My family is from Virginia and there’s many, many families that carry my family last name. Yes it’s in the history books as to how it became. Long before the civil war and after. The families was treated so well they did not want to leave. And to this day, they are still there in Essex county VA with the last name of Samuel, Butler, Bryant all connected in marriage dating back to 1750.
That’s amazing! Thanks for watching!
@@RagtopHistorian you’re welcome and thank you for the upload. It was vary interesting to see other places that took care of the people.
Such a beautiful story Mary! So good to learn and add to history. Grace will never be forgotten in my church black history from now on. She was courageous in thinking of her future and so used all she knew in being brought as a slave. Slave owners depending on where one lived where different in ways they treated their slaves. Its so good that Grace's wish was honored. Grace rest in peace.
Thanks for watching!
Cam Bennett is my 3x great grandfather. My grandparents, Glenn and Jeanne Brewer, lived in his house until they passed away recently. Lots of good memories in that town! The house is now the Southern Conservation Trust. Most of my family is buried in that cemetery.
I bet you know lots of Fayette County stories! If you want to go on video with some of them, let me know! Email me at Ragtophistorian@yahoo,com.
Wonder why Margaret and her family chose Oakland to be buried in instead of here
Thank you! That was amazing!
Excellent presentation.
Thank you so much for watching!
Thank you Deb for sharing! Love these stories.
Thanks so much for watching!
I'm a fellow history geek from Northern Ireland. I really enjoyed your video 😊
Thank you so much! We loved visiting Ireland a few years ago! So beautiful! Thanks for watching!
Amazing I'm touched !
Thanks so much, and thanks for watching!!
Enjoyed your presentation so much! I’m also a history “nerd” and proud of it!
Thanks so much for watching!
I am not a history nerd but I do love a good story and that madam, is one fine story,, good job and very well intonated.
Thank you for watching! Mrs. Riddle knows her history!
Doc Holiiday was a Dentist by Profession but he drilled people as well,
Wow, that was lovely !
Many thanks.....
Thanks so much for watching!
This is lovely; the story, the music, the presentation. Thank you!
Thanks so much for watching!
Beautiful story!! Thank u for telling it!!!
Thanks and thanks for watching!
What a wonderful and heartwarming story and new historical prospective. A history nerd as well and teacher of same.
Thank you! I felt the same way. These people shouldn't be forgotten to time. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Not only is this a great story. This is how we should treat each other.
Thank you, Richard. It is an amazing true story of love and kindness. We could all learn something from it. Thanks so much for watching and your comment!
What a moving story. History is complicated. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Thanks for watching!
That was so lovely and touching ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much for watching and commenting!
@@RagtopHistorian your very welcome
Keep up the great work !!❤️❤️❤️❤️
What beautiful history
How wonderful ❤
Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for watching!
So much amazing history...great story thank you for sharing.
Thank you for watching!!!
Do you think she loved him? Whatever, they must have had a wonderful connection. Thank you very much 🙏🙏🙏🙏🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
The entire family must have loved her very much. She must have been a very special lady.
What a fascinating story. Many thanks, and best wishes from County Down, Northern Ireland ☘️🙏🏻
Thanks so much! Thanks for watching!
I’ve read gwtw so many times, including right now, and I am so grateful for the video. I would love to meet ms. Riddle the docent and pick her brain❣️ thank you for this video 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you! Deborah Riddle is doing a cemetery walk at the cemetery in the video, The Fayetteville City Cemetery on Friday, October 15th if you are interested! She has lots of stories!
Awesome story!!!
How lovely. A very interesting story. Thank you! ⚘️
Thank you! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Most interesting! Thank you very much.
Thank you! and Thanks for watching!!!
Thank you so much for sharing your families stories with us.
Thanks so much for watching!
Excellent Debbie and HDF House Museum
Thanks for watching!
Enjoyed very much. Thank you Debbie.
A very love story! I truly enjoyed it, Deborah Riddle!
Thanks for watching!
That was a very interesting story. Thank you
Lovely story to know...thank you
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing! I enjoy learning about the past .
Thank you for watching!
Sounds a lovely family, for helping grace, the family must of meant a lot to her, especially requesting to be burried with them, and again for that to be granted.
Thanks for watching and that nice comment! I can imagine they were a very well respected family in that area.
Absolutely fascinating, please do more stories about the African Americans buried on the other side.
I have some planned! There are some fascinating stories there! Thanks for watching!
That piano is just gorgeous! ❤️
Thanks so much! The name of the song is “An Ode to all Mothers” by Howard Harper-Barnes. It’s a beautiful song!
@@RagtopHistorian aw thanks for letting me know. The gravestones look so beautiful now. It's sad when they're just left. Maybe no family now to care for them. Great job ❤️.
They are in the city cemetery, cared for pretty well, thankfully! Thanks so much for watching!
I really enjoyed this history lesson of my state.
This is great I love our history and even though black folks were not treated kindly at all this is a sweet kind loving tribute that people back then did do the right thing god bless their souls
The music is just right for this, so much enjoyed!!!
I subscribed by why was Grace`s headstone smaller than the head stones behind her resting place?
Thanks for subscribing! Concerning Grace’s headstone, we would have to ask Mr. Fitzgerald about that. It was the 1850’s, for one thing. He was already breaking the rules of the cemetery by burying her with the family. It was a very kind and courageous thing to do back then. He didn’t own slaves and this was a big statement to the community. She WAS the family’s servant, however, and not family. It was a different era. Thanks again for the comment! I hope you enjoy the channel!
Even on a head stone, color played an important part in describing a person who has passed away.
What’s important to remember here is that she was buried next to Mr. Fitzgerald in a “white only” section of the cemetery. It was a way to show others that the family loved her enough to have her buried with them. It was an honor to Grace.
And it still plays the same unfortunate part Today only its position has changed every one sets to much on it black white Asian greek Italian its still 1 race the human race 🏁 😑
This was so interesting to me. Doc Holiday and Margaret Mitchell related. Wow! The story of Grace was very nice too. Ms. Riddle thank you.
Thank you and thanks for watching!!!
As a history geek myself, I found this story to be very heartwarming. I guess 56 others are too politically correct to want to understand this story in the context of the time in which it happened.
Precious.
Thanks so much for watching!
Loved the story. TY
Fascinating...I am a "history nerd" too. Thanks for making this video...more coming? Hope so!
There will be more! Thanks so much for watching!
@@RagtopHistorian vicious period of American history, but GWTW is a fascinating movie that I loved as a kid, poor Vivien Leigh died a tragic, broken character in real life.
This is an amazing documentary
Thank you! Thanks for watching!
What an awesome story.
Thank you for sharing.
my late uncle loyd faught in world 1 ant 2 he was from the old carolinas told me a lot about the old south witch i have always had lot of respect for god bless.
Thanks for watching!
I'M a big Mitchell fan. Thanks for this.
Thanks so much for watching!
The Grace story reminds me a little of biblical Ruth. Minus the kinsman-marriage-thing. Requesting to lay at his feet makes me wonder if she took it from the Bible, as he did set her free.
Amazing story.
What lovely piano music.! What is being played?
It’s called “An Ode to all Mothers”. By Howard Harper-Barnes.
th-cam.com/video/mC1VdQyYE6I/w-d-xo.html
I am assuming that this cemetery, if still used, is no longer segregated?
This is a very old, historic cemetery. It is no longer segregated. Thanks for the question and for watching!
My all time favorite book and no wonder it is based on real life and real people. Thanks 😊
Thanks for watching!
Very interesting! I love this!
Thanks so much for watching!
Beautiful
Thanks for watching!
Very Good!
Thank you! Thanks for watching!
A very interesting and enjoyable video. A great lesson in History, very well done.
Very neat story! ❤️
I just stumbled upon this story. It is wonderful. I am one of those history detail lovers you talked about. When you were going through the background of the Fitzgerald family did you ever find any pieces that they were associated with JFK? Thank you
No, I haven’t. I am looking for that connection also! Thanks so much for watching! I will let you know what I find out!
@@RagtopHistorian Thank you. There were so many common names & being Irish it just makes sense. I subscribed to your channel. I will keep watching. If your stories were as good as this one I will keep watching. Thank you for your hard work.
Thank you Ragtop Historian, and Ms. Riddle for her offering. :)))
Thanks so much for watching!
After listening and watching this very unique video I have finally discovered that I am a history nerd.
Thanks, Frank! Welcome to the history nerd club!
Very interesting.
Thanks so much for watching!
Actress Susan Hayward auditioned for the part of Scarlett in the film but did not get the role. She is buried in Carrollton Georgia. There is a memorial at the performing arts center here in Carrollton as well.